Question
Why is my HIV viral load increased to 30 when I take all my meds?
30 September 2026. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load.
For at least 2 years i was undetectable, and now the result is 30. What can happened? It can become again undetectable ? I mention that i take daily pill without any missing. Thanks!
Answer
Hi there
Please don’t worry about this.
It sounds like your normal viral load test has a cut off value of 20 copies/mL and you are normally lower than 20.
Several things could explain the results at 30 but this is still very low and technically still undetectable. This is because most tests have a cur off of 50 copies/mL, so 30 would still be undetectable on this type of test (because 30 would be read as undetectable.
Actually, sometimes any result less than 200 is also called undetectable. For example when talking about U=U.
Other reasons for the result of 30 include:
- Maybe the hospital has changed to a different type of viral load test.
- Maybe it is an inaccurate result – tests are not sensitive at these low levels.
- Maybe it is just a viral blip and is already undetectable again.
- Maybe you had a mild infection that knocked the viral load a bit higher.
In the UK the clinic would just run another viral load test in a few weeks to confirm the result.
If this is a real viral load rebound the next test will be higher.
Given your careful adherence though, your viral load is likely to already be undetectable again without needing to do anything.
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